Two Roads, One Destination: Rethinking Sustainability from the Inside Out
When most people hear the word sustainability, they think of electric vehicles, climate policy, recycling, or solar panels. As someone who works in transportation and logistics, I get it. My day job involves creating awareness of how to optimize logistics to reduce emissions—helping goods move cleaner and smarter across Canada.
But I’ve come to believe that sustainability is much more than a strategy for the external world.
It’s also a commitment to how we lead, how we live, and how we sustain ourselves—especially in roles that require us to serve others.
Recently, I had the opportunity to explore this idea through a project in Toastmasters, where I currently serve as a Region Advisor. The assignment was simple in theory: keep a daily journal for two weeks, tracking your thoughts, moods, actions, and gratitude. Reflect on how your emotions affect your behavior, and how your behavior impacts the people around you.
As someone used to tracking shipments and key performance indicators, shifting the lens inward was… new.
What started as a professional development exercise quickly became something deeper. And what I learned changed the way I look at both sustainability and leadership.
The External Journey: Building Sustainable Systems
In my professional life, I’ve spent created courses focused on reducing environmental impact in logistics. That means optimizing routes to save fuel, using data to avoid unnecessary travel, and supporting fleets that invest in low-emission technologies. In other words, solving real-world sustainability problems with practical tools.
But even in that space, there’s a growing awareness that sustainability must be holistic. For example, one course I created included a case study which focused on emissions reduction for a major freight corridor. We had all the right data—fuel models, route efficiency, ROI projections. It was airtight on paper.
Then, during a case debrief meeting, someone asked, “How will this impact the people living along this corridor?” Silence.
It was a moment of clarity: even in environmental work, we often overlook the human dimension. Sustainability that doesn’t include people isn’t really sustainable.
The Internal Journey: Leadership That Lasts
At the same time, I was supporting Toastmasters leaders across districts in my Region Advisor role. These were talented, passionate volunteers—many juggling work, family, and service. And week after week, I heard the same story in different voices: “I’m tired. I’m overwhelmed. I want to help—but I’m burning out.”
It hit me. We talk a lot about growing clubs and building leaders—but not enough about sustaining them.
Through my journaling, I started to notice how my own energy and mindset shifted depending on how I showed up. When I approached leadership with presence, compassion, and awareness, I connected more deeply. People responded more openly. And I felt more grounded.
One day, during a coaching call with a struggling leader, I didn’t dive into metrics or strategy. I simply asked, “How are you feeling?” Her voice softened. She shared her doubts and worries. I listened. And afterward, she said, “That was the first time I felt like I wasn’t alone in this.”
That, to me, is sustainable leadership.
What It All Comes Down To
Here’s what I’ve come to understand:
- Sustainability isn’t just about the planet. It’s also about the people on it.
- It’s not only about efficiency. It’s about endurance—the ability to keep going without burning out.
- And most importantly, it starts with self-awareness. If you don’t know how you’re feeling, you can’t lead others effectively—or compassionately.
Whether I’m mapping out a lower-emission logistics network or helping a Toastmasters leader navigate challenges, my role is really the same: to support systems and people in a way that allows them to thrive over time.
Not just today. Not just for this project. But sustainably.
Final Thoughts: Sustainability Is a Personal Practice
If you’re in a leadership role—formal or informal—I encourage you to think about sustainability in a new way. Not just as something we practice out there in the world, but something we embody in how we lead and live.
Ask yourself:
- Am I giving from a full cup, or an empty one?
- Am I creating space for reflection, or just reacting?
- Am I building systems—for my team or myself—that can go the distance?
Because the truth is, you can’t lead sustainably if you don’t live sustainably.
Take care of your purpose. But take care of yourself, too.
That’s real sustainability.
